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G. W: BORNE: SAFETY SWITGSTAND. u NQ. 290,194-, Patentedned. 11, 1883.'

N. PUERS. Hnlofmlmgnplmr, washingmn. n.6A

UNITED STATES- -Paritair OFFICE.

4GEORGE V. HORNEOF NEW YORK, l\. Y.

SAFETY-SWITCH STAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,194., dated December 11, 1883.

i Application filed June 12,1883. (Nomodcl.) Y

To all whom may concern: Y

Be it known that I, GEORGE WV. HORNE, a subject of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Switch Stands, of which thevfollow-V ing is a specication.

My invention relates to means for operating switches, which, when closed, are held in place by a spring, so that a trainpassing through the closed switch is permitted to force it over, and so pass onto the main line without derailment, and when it has passed the switch the same will close automatically, thereby leaving the main linealways vopen and free for trains to pass either way. e

It consists in combining with a switch-stand and lever fork actuating the switch-points a powerful spring and moving fulcrum, which is connected to said -lever and automatically locked and unlocked, so that when thel spring is locked the switch may be freely moved and set in either direction by the lever independently of the spring; but when set as desiredand the lever locked, the spring and movable fulcrum is automatically unlocked, and said switch is then under the control of the spring or moving fulcrum, leaving it in the condition of a spring safety-switch.

The object of my invention is to devise an absolute safety-switch stand which is manipu- 'lated with ease and certainty, and in which7 by the automatic arrangement of my locking device, the act of unlocking the lever to move the switch-points in either direction automatically locks the spring or Vmoving fulcrum,

thereby making same a fixed fulcrum, and

thus making it impossible to `lock the lever until the switch-points are in the proper place to correspond'with the main-line rail. When the switch is properly set, the locking of the lever automatically unlocks the spring ormoving fulcrum, thus leaving the switch perfectly safe against accidents of any kind, which will be hereinafter more fully explained, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents an elevation of switchstand disconnected from the rails. Fig. 2 represents a plan of stand and switch-points and rails of' main and siding lines.

Fig. 3 repreview as Fig. 3, when ythe spring and moving v fulcruln are locked, and the lever unlocked and free to move the switch-points inpeither direction. j Fig. 5 represents an enlarged side elevation of top partV of switch-stand in longitudinal section, showing the applicationof the moving fulcrum and spring.

. Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several views.

A is a stand or case; B, arc or arched frame; C, lever; D,-moving fulcrum-block; E, spring; F, locking-arm; G, lamp or signal rod; HH, switch-points; K K', fixed rails. K and H representsiding-rails. H and K represent main-line rails.

The lever C is pivoted to the fulcrum-block D at a. "The lower end of said lever is attached to the switch-point H H by the rod b. The upper end of lever extends above the arc or arch B, passing between same and the locking-arm F. Upon said locking-arm F is a projection, e, (shown in Fig. 1,) which eX- tends backof the lever C, forming a slot or recess for the reception of the lever C.

- On theinner ,face of the arc B isa projection, h, which extends the required length of the stroke or throw of the lever G, and which 5 forms the lock for the lever when used as a safety-switch. The lever C, when drawn over,

as shown invFig. 1, past the end of projection D. The said block is suspended in the stand upon the bars m and n. The spring is placed around the bar m in the top of case or stand A,

between the projecting ears N of the block D. When the switch is locked over to either side by the lever C, as shown in Figs. l and 2, the ange of the wheel passing between the point TOO and the fixed rail will force them apart and draw the lower end of lever C in same direction, which also carries the fulcrumbloclc with it, which is pivoted to the said lever at c. The spring E is thereby colnpressed, and said spring is prevented from passing along the baron, by the flanged sleeve l?, along which the projecting ears N of block D move freely. The spring remains compressed until the train has passed through the switch, and then the elasticity of said spring forces the fulcrumblock to the center and the switch-points back to their former position beside the fixed rail. The operation is the same when the switch is set on either side.

Vhcn the switch is required to be set in `either direction, the padlock or pin p is removed and the lever C is drawn forward of the projection h, as shown in Fig. 4. (The dotted lines represent the position of lever C when locked, before being drawn forward.) The upper end of lockingarm F is also brought for ward, (same being pivoted to frame 13,) which causes the projections or detents S' on the lower end of arms F to pass through the case A, embracing the ends ofthe fulcrumblock D, and securely holding said block from moving when the switch is to be moved by the lever C, which makes same an independent switchstand for this operation, and unless the switchpoints are in their proper position the lever C cannot be locked, as there is no elasticity in the fule1un1-bloek and lever when secured in the manner described.

Another important feature in my improvement is, by putting the spring in the top of the stand I am enabled to incase it in and protect it from ice, snow, Sac., whereas in the present system of using safety-springs they are exposed, and, being placed close to the ground between the rails, they often get frozenA up, and have to be cleared before they will act or perform the duties required.

Thus it will be seen that by so combining the mechanism I am enabled to construct an absolutely-safe and automatic switch-stand, whereby it is impossible for accidents to occur through the negligence of switch-tenders- Having described my invention what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s*- 1. In a railroad-switch stand, the lever-fulcrum, in combination with a spring and with detents, whereby when the lever is locked the fulcrnm is free to yield and when the lever is unlocked the fulcrum is fixed, substantially as described.v

2. In a railroad-switch stand, the moving fulerum-block D, with lever C pivoted thereto and connected with the safety-spring E, sub stantially as described.

3. In a railroad-switch stand, the pivoted locking-arm F, provided. with projections e and detents S, in combination with lever C and the moving fulerum-block D, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a railroad-switch stand, the combination of a moving fulcrum-block, D, and lever C, pivoted thereto, the arched frame B, With projection 7L upon its face for locking lever C, the 'lockingarm F, with its recess formed by projection e for said lever, and projections or detents S, for embracing the ends of fulcrumblock D and securely retaining it in such position until released, all to operate automatically, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 21st day ot' May, A. D. 1883.

CHRISTIAN WEBER, BENJN. A. DARE. 

